"I met with the Dalai Lama during his last visit
to Denmark in 2003 and I plan to do so again if
possible," Rasmussen wrote in response to a
question from opposition Socialist People's Party
member Pernille Frahm, who passed on his answer to AFP.

Frahm said she had written to the prime minister
to ask if he "planned to defy warnings from the
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and meet with the Dalai Lama in May."

The 73-year-old exiled spiritual leader has
visited Denmark several times, each time
provoking loud protests from China, which has ruled Tibet since 1951.

His next visit to the Scandinavian country is scheduled for May 29-31.